Stanley Cup

Whoever wins the NHL Finals gets the Stanley Cup and their names engraved on the cup. Every player and coach is given one or two days with the Stanley Cup during which he can do whatever he wants with it. The Cup has Several Honor Guards who go wherever the cup goes and protect the cup with their lives, not to mention they keep the cup polished and well maintained. Ed Belfour (Stars goalie, won in 1999) took the Stanley Cup to the Tilt-o-Whirl at a themepark, as displayed in a Stanley Cup commercial, where he's screaming "Faster, Faster!" And the Honor Guards are muttering "Oh, god." With the Stanley Cup comically tucked in with a seat belt.

Mike Modano (Stars forward, won in 1999) had his picture taken with the Stanley Cup and his family, during which, his child beats on the cup with a hockey stick and screams 'DADDY YOU LOVE IT MORE THAN ME'.

There is a moratorium on drinking from the cup: If your name is not on the Stanley Cup, you may not drink from it (unless of course it's okay with someone whose name is on the cup.)

The informal tradition of players adding their names to the trophy became formalized, and the bands were added to hold the names. In a unique tradition started by the New York Rangers in 1994, each player also gets to have the cup for a twenty-four hours, to take home to the folks or otherwise spend time with*.

So ... how did Lord Stanley's mug end up in the bottom of Mario's pool?

During the course of the party, Penguins goaltender Tom Barrasso climbed up the
waterfall with the Cup, and had his photo taken. After much more of this, the Cup was left atop the waterfall and the party went on.

Meanwhile, defenceman Phil Bourque, who had been enjoying a frostyalcoholic beverage or two, decided to scale the waterfall. According to legend, clad only in his underwear, Bourque lifted the Cup and hurled it into the pool, where it sank ignominiously to the bottom.

Since that infamous day, the Cup travels with security escorts assigned by the NHL.

* Many have debated what should happen to the Cup during the 2004 NHL player lockout summer. The league has hit upon a tremendous idea. Since 1994, each player on the winning team has gotten to spend one day as he chooses with the Cup. During the summer of 2005, the NHL will honour select veterans from the past by letting them have the Stanely Cup for a day. According to TSN columnist Bob McKenzie*, the oldest living Stanley Cup winners will be given the Cup for a day. Bob reports that HHOF member Ted Lindsay spearheaded this effort.http://www.tsn.ca/columnists/bob_mckenzie.asp

2010s

Fun Stanley Cup facts!

There are three eras that cover the NHL since its beginning: the Original Six era (1927-1966); the first expansion era (1967-1990); and the second expansion era (1991-present). Given the longevity of the Original Six era, it should come as no surprise that the most successful teams overall began in that era.

a)The Arizona Coyotes played as the Winnipeg Jets from 1979 until 1996, when they moved to Phoenix and became the Phoenix Coyotes; in 2014, the team's name was changed to the Arizona Coyotes.

b)The Ottawa Senators team of the early 20th century is distinct from the modern team of the same name; the 1927 Cup win belongs to the earlier incarnation.

c)The second incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets began play in 1999 as the Atlanta Thrashers before moving to Winnipeg in 2011. This version is distinct from the version which played from 1979-1996 before changing their name to the Phoenix Coyotes and later the Arizona Coyotes.

/msg avalyn with updates, questions, etc. The most recent update was made on June 12, 2017.

Every year the Staleny Cup is hoisted over the victorious shoulders of individuals from one fortunate team. What most people do not know is what happens to the Stanley Cup after the cameras turn off and the fans go home. An official tradition began in 1995 of having players of
the winning team spend a day with the Stanley Cup. Long before the official tradition, the cup has turned up in some unpredictable places.

Early 1900s - A forward thinking capitalist member of the Montreal Wanderers who also happened to own a bowling alley displayed the cup in a trophy case. As the story goes he used the cup as an impressive ashtray and trashcan combo for gum and cigars, thus impressing friends and bowlers.

1905 - The Ottawa Silver Seven had Bo Jackson beat by several decades playing multiple sports. After winning the trophy members of the team punted the Stanley Cup over the Rideau Canal on the Ottawa River. This might seem physically impossible now, but in those days the cup wasn't much larger than a football. The trophy was found the next day on the ice.

1906 - The bowl of the cup has been used by victorious players for many practical purposes. After a photo shoot with members of the Montreal team, the cup was forgotten at the photo studio.
Leaving no good bowl to waste, the local photographer's mother used the cup to plant geraniums, to decorate the studio window until hockey officials relieved her of the silver vase.

1924 - Another Montreal team, another forgotten cup. This time the Montreal Canadiens, traveling to a victory party at the team owner's house, pulled over to fix a flat tire. Only after arriving at the party did they realized the cup was left behind. Luckily for them, the cup was recovered on the road where it was left untouched, just a mile and a half from the party.

1927 - King Clancy of the Ottawa Senators found a practical use for the cup. Apparently having an abundance of junk mail and space at a premium, Clancy used the cup to collect his mail, stray pencils, chewing gum, and cigars.

The Stanley Cup has had many lovers, and occupied the beds of many married men. New York Islander Bryan Trottier once said, "I wanted to wake up and find it right beside me. I didn't want to just dream of this happening."

After a night in bed, the Stanley Cup usually takes a hot shower. Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings once took a shower with the Stanley Cup.

1962 - Chicago is known more for their blues music than their hockey. So it may not seem surprising that during a playoff game between the Canadiens and the Chicago Blackhawks, a fan took the cup out of the Chicago stadium display case, telling police outside that he was merely returning it to Montreal, "where it belonged."

1980 - Having no clean dishes left in his apartment, New York Islander Clark Gillies allowed his dog to eat from the cup.

1987 - The 80's was a glutinous time for many people, including those in Canada. After the Edmonton Oilers won the championship, the cup ended up across the street-- naked-- on the runway with an exotic dancer at the Forum Inn.

1996 - Looking for a more creative use for a large silver trophy than a container for junk mail, dog food or baptised children, Brian Noonan found the cup an ideal rolling pin to make biscuits with while appearing on MTV.